They were an icon against fascism, a club representative of a people, more than any national identity could ever be. We saw commonalities between Barcelona and our own heritage. While we did what we could to earn a seat at the top table, they packed out the biggest club stadium in Europe and were invariably second, third, or sometimes first in the football money league.
Catalan prosecutors have revealed that over a 17 year period, Barcelona paid €8.4m to the former vice-president of the Spanish refereeing committee, Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira, and his company. The payments are not disputed, the former referee VP, claims the club employed him to ensure fairness.
He said, “I saw [Barcelona presidents] at most six times a year so they were calm that there were no decisions against FC Barcelona in the arbitration committee, that everything was neutral.” The club claim they paid the money for Negreira to compile video reports to compliment information required by coaching staff.
Former Barcelona presidents, Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu, face corruption charges, the former recently spent two years in prison on separate charges before being acquitted on appeal. The club’s current president, Joan Laporta, has not been indicted, although the story has a long way to run.
Compared to what happened in Scotland – disguised renumeration and undisclosed contracts to dodge taxes and gain a sporting advantage, paying millions to a referee chief – even if you accept either parties’ version of events, is on a different level. Perhaps only Juventus can compete with what for so many of us was an iconic bastion of goodness in the game.
Although corruption exists in football, it is rare to see payments directly between parties who should never have such commercial dealings. More commonly, this type of payment would go through a third party. The industry is a heady environment for ambitious lawyers, who make up a sizeable portion of the players’ agent industry. They commonly invoice significant fees to club and can easily pay equally significant fees out for other professional services.
You may know it goes on, but even if you had all the paperwork, proving what happened was something sinister can be impossible. Which is why this is so shoddy, lazy, even. It is time for us to stop pretending modern sport is some bastion of 19th century ethical endeavours and accept that law breaking, organised crime and plain old bias cannot reach our fields. To believe otherwise does our athletes and the paying customer a disservice.
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I don’t know why I said 12 August, I should have said 12 April. I blame the loss of that hour.
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SCULLYBHOY
No problem, didn’t realise you were going much later in the year. I haven’t been since 1986, but friends were there last year and thankfully really liked the restaurant which turned out to be only 5 minutes walk from their accommodation. No shortage of good restaurants, that’s for sure.
SCULLYBHOY
Just saw your update, not much later, then, boa viagem!
Canamalar
Many thanks for taking the time to give such a detailed, researched and well structured explanation re jabs.
It’s a very interesting subject. I am sure there will be more fallout.
Incredible times to live through and witness such mass control exerted over a compliant western population totally facilitated by ‘fear’.
Paulsthroughball
Honestly that rugby game should have been stopped yesterday. Embarrassing and dangerous mismatch.
The 3 proper pro teams should play each other until the rest are shown to be ready to compete.
I played in plenty unbalanced rugby games growing up. It is not safe.
Off to kamwa to wait for our food. May have to go to the Allison Arms and Heraghtys while I’m waiting. How I suffer for my art.
BURNLEY78
I thought you were referring to a mismatch in terms of skill, rather than physical size and strength. No doubt, given the amount of collisions in the sport, that could be dangerous for those players not equipped to protect themselves properly.
However, in terms of sporting integrity, we were obviously talking about quite separate matters.
paulsthroughball88 on 26th March 2023 5:55 pm
SCULLYBHOY
Just saw your update, not much later, then, boa viagem!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
My wife can speak Portuguese, but I struggle with English.
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I was watching an interview with Steve Clarke, after the Scotland match on Shortbread TV. I was surprised to see Craig Gordon standing there as a pundit (should I be?) Reminds me of that Matt McGinn song ” Two nights and a Sunday double time”
“THREE nights and a Sunday double time” it was
It’s quiet so spend a little time enjoying this.
There have been two times that I have cried with complete joy and happiness when we appointed a new manger, Martin O’Neil and Brendan Rodgers, but one thing I will tell you is that I will cry tears of sadness the day we lose Ange.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZJa_5RQbBA
Definitely not Steven…unless we get him to Lourdes or somewhere like that!’
Northern Ireland boss tells Steven Davis he’ll need a Rangers miracle to play again this season
Michael O’ Neill
That was the third of a trilogy, these are the first two and really well worth the watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVFmEWIOf38
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK7IKO5ekzo&t=6s
A long read, but if yoi can be bothered, this abuse of power does indeed go to the top of the legal system in scotland.
—————————-
Lord Advocate’s fraud case against ex-Rangers exec was malicious
13 hrs ago
Exclusive by Martin Williams
THE wrongful prosecution of former Rangers finance chief Imran Ahmad in the failed club fraud case was malicious, lawyers acting for the Lord Advocate have admitted.
The new twist in the ‘abuse of power’ scandal has been revealed in court papers associated with Mr Ahmad’s damages claim of more than £60m against the Lord Advocate over his arrest after being linked to club fraud and conspiracy.
Mr Ahmad, who is understood to have been a key player in the £5.5m takeover of Rangers by the Charles Green-fronted Sevco consortium says he has lost his career and suffered “irreparable reputational harm” over the failed fraud case.
Judges in the High Court in London have previously ruled that police and prosecutors “abused state power” during the club fraud investigation.
Mr Ahmad was charged in 2014 along with six other men during an investigation into how Scots businessman Craig Whyte bought the club company from Sir David Murray for £1 in May, 2011.
They were subjected to detention and criminal proceedings in relation to fraud allegations in the wake of Mr Whyte’s disastrous purchase of Rangers and its subsequent sale before a judge dismissed all charges.
READ MORE: Revealed: The secret taxman gameplan to liquidate Rangers
The Lord Advocate had initially denied liability for a malicious prosecution and in August, 2020, sent a letter to Mr Ahmad’s solicitor admitting he should not have been prosecuted in connection with the club takeover and advising an apology would be issued.
Mr Ahmad, the 53-year-old former director of the club’s football board, received a renewed apology from the then James Wolffe QC in June, 2021 but only stated that he and former Rangers chief executive Mr Green “should not have been prosecuted” and had “no proper basis” while there was no malice admission.
Subsequent attempts to mediate in Mr Ahmad’s action failed and a judge is currently considering the amount of damages that the former Rangers chief will get.
The Lord Advocate says that the the sum sued for is “excessive”.
But lawyers acting for the Lord Advocate have gone further than the apology stating: “There has never been objective probable cause for the charges against him and in the circumstances malice in the sense required to give rise to liability at common law can be inferred.
The Lord Advocate admitted liability to make reparations to Mr Ahmad “for any loss, injury and damage sustained by him as a direct result of the prosecution that continued from September 2, 2015 to June 21, 2016.
Previous beneficiaries of admitted malicious prosecutions in the Rangers case were finance experts David Whitehouse and Paul Clark (below) of multi-national consultants Duff and Phelps who were appointed administrators of Rangers when it fell into insolvency in February, 2012.
HeraldScotland:
They settled out of court with the Crown Office in 2021 to the tune of around £26.6m including costs.
Sources close to Mr Ahmad said that his legal fees alone for the case amounted to £3m.
But the Lord Advocate only greed to an interim award to the tune of £220,000 as they aimed to question the extent of the claim made.
READ MORE: Rangers FC brand was not valued before being sold for nothing
The police investigation was launched against a backdrop of the controversial nature of Mr Whyte’s nine months in charge at Ibrox.
He agreed to take on Rangers’ financial obligations, which included an £18m bank debt, a potential £72m ‘big tax case’ bill, a £2.8m “small tax case” liability, £1.7m for stadium repairs, £5m for players and £5m in working capital.
But there was outrage when it emerged Mr Whyte’s takeover in May, 2011 was supported with the mortgaging of future season ticket sales before the Sevco buyout of the club led by Mr Green in June, 2011.
Legal representatives of Mr Ahmad say first confirmation that enquiries were at an end was obtained from an article in the Herald on February 28, 2018. The article said that the Lord Advocate confirmed that Mr Ahmad would not face further proceedings as there was “now no evidence of a crime”.
They state in legal documents: “There was no basis upon which the defenders or those acting on their behalf could have held reasonable suspicion that the Mr Ahmad had committed the charges libelled…
“An honest and reasonable analysis of the actions of Mr Ahmad in relation to Rangers would have made this clear.”
HeraldScotland:
They say that in February, 2018, despite three years of investigation, no evidence was found of a crime being committed by Mr Ahmad.”
The former Rangers executive who says he relocated to Dubai for business reasons in March 2015 was unable to return to the UK between August 2014 and September 1, 2016 as a result of the warrant for this arrest.
He says he was unable to live with or visit his ex-wife and four young children who were in Hertfordshire, England during the period.
He said he was also unable to operate and participate in business and gain employment.
It is alleged that there was a breach of Mr Ahmad’s rights under Article 8 of the European Human Rights Act to a private and family life.
Police Scotland and the Lord Advocate deny his human rights were violated saying any claim was ‘time barred’.
“As a result of the wrongful prosecution and breaches of his human rights, he has suffered damage, injury and loss. He had experience in investment, merchant banking and stock broking,” according to Mr Ahmad’s legal team.
“As a result of the wrongful prosecution against him he has suffered irreparable reputational damage in the worldwide business community. As a result he has lost the opportunity to participate in numerous remunerative business opportunities and to pursue his career. His career has been lost due to the malicious prosecution.”
The Lord Advocate, who is arguing against the depth of the damages claim says that Mr Ahmad’s reputation had been “adversely affected” through his involvement with Charles Green and Rangers.
Gerry Moynihan QC for the Lord Advocate has said that Mr Ahmad did not have Financial Conduct Authority approval to carry out regulated activities by a firm. He says this would restrict the range of work that Mr Ahmad would have been able to undertake.
HeraldScotland:
The Chief Constable of Police Scotland was also identified as culpable in Mr Ahmad’s damages action.
READ MORE: ‘No f***ing clue’: Craig Whyte’s ‘end game’ was for Rangers to go bust, says adviser in secret email
But the force say that they have “no responsibility” for the prosecution.
They say decisions taken in relation to whether to place an accused on petition or indictment and whether to continue with a prosecution thereafter are solely the responsibility of the Lord Advocate.
The decision to drop charges against Mr Green and others by the Crown Office had marked the end of the two-and-a-half-year long proceedings which saw only Craig Whyte face trial and led to no convictions.
Lord Mulholland was the Lord Advocate when the Rangers fraud investigations were taking place but it was his replacement Mr Wolffe who had been handling the fallout from 2016 before he stood down last year to be replaced by Dorothy Bain KC.
In the public apology to Mr Ahmad and Mr Green which emerged in June, 2021, Mr Wolffe said: “Between 2015 and 2016, Mr Imran Ahmad and Mr Charles Green were prosecuted in the High Court concerning matters associated with Rangers Football Club.
“They should not have been prosecuted and, as Lord Advocate and head of the system for the prosecution of crime in Scotland, I have apologised unreservedly that they were.
“I made a statement to the Scottish Parliament following the settlement of two related cases, and I said at that time that there had been profound departures from normal practice.
“Lessons have been learned from what happened and the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has taken steps to prevent a similar situation from arising in the future.
“I have given a commitment that there will be a judge-led inquiry into these matters once all relevant legal cases have concluded.
“The actions by Mr Ahmad and Mr Green (below) continue with a view to settlement of their financial claims.”
HeraldScotland: Imran Ahmad and Charles Green
Details of the prosecutions scandal started emerging five years ago when it was revealed that London-based legal firm Holman Fenwick Willan, who were acting for Duff and Phelps, was awarded £500,000 costs after police and prosecutors were found by the High Court in London to have “abused state powers” by carrying out an illegal raid and seizing privileged documents in connection with the failed Rangers fraud case.
A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: “The previous Lord Advocate committed the Crown to support public scrutiny through a judge-led inquiry once all litigation is over and apologised for the cost to the public purse.
“There are long-standing and robust processes in place to minimise the possibility that wrongful prosecutions are brought.
“We have strengthened these through case management panels which provide additional scrutiny and direction from senior prosecutors.”
St Stivs 7.19.
Top post.thank you for delinking
HH
The Bank Of Scotland…..Yip I did manage to stuff them and it was glorious >:)
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Celtic youth shines on Ireland international duty with winning goal
By John McGinley
1 hour ago
Celtic striking prospect Johnny Kenny delighted Ireland U21 supporters with a late winner against Iceland in a friendly today, kicking off their 2023 schedule in perfect fashion.
TET 7.13pm
I cried when both left …
Well my eyes were moist ..
but both choose to depart :-)
Hope all is well in the cave … my wee yin has now handed down your good ladies book to the wee 7yr old granddaughter
Ange is special … mate 🍀
Gerry
So did I that was four times I cried >:)
Football has changed so so much, Ange is a new breed, he is not what I would call a checkbook manger, take the checkbook away for so many mangers and IMO they would be pish, he believes in his ideas 100% and is going for it, thankfully we have given him the chance, it’s managers like him who are gonna change the game for the better
Oh and I did like Lenny, big time, just a pity his last spell didny work out.
I read the book the other week, enjoyed it again
Just left my Mum. 88 years old and she’s bright as a button. Told her that me and Prestonpans were going to the hun game. “Watch out son their eyes are too close together to be human”. Ffs hahahaha 😁😂
“Watch out son their eyes are too close together to be human”.
That’s what I call perception >:)
IMY2
They are amazing at covers, seriously the best out there
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvhgSNj-_Vs&list=TLPQMjYwMzIwMjMk_Ip7R95DMw&index=9
Canny help it, they are amazing….into the wild
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6n5FvOV5YQ&list=TLPQMjYwMzIwMjMk_Ip7R95DMw&index=16
Johnny Kenny may have come off the bench today to score the winner for Ireland under 21s but he has no hope of making it at Celtic. He is fairly average player
BRRB
Have one of my gins, pinkie finger up of course 🍸
TET 8.35pm
Ma wee yin is now 14 (and obviously now taller than her Da) She passed the book into the wee 7yr old granddaughter … I take great pride that she refers to the book as “the guy fae CQN that’s wife wrote this book” … I think it was my sisters who ordered it so not even me …. But (always a but) it was my idea to get the book …
By the way am hoping my wee granddaughter hands it down to her kids :-)
Tell Mrs TET thanks … kids reading books is never a bad thing
Bored out of your skull? Need a wee Celtic shot?
I just watched Armageddon by Paul Larkin.
It’s two or three years old now but a reminder of who we are and what we have achieved.
I defy you to have a dry eye at the end.
https://youtu.be/PZJa_5RQbBA
Ave Ave
Oops. Apologies I didn’t know it had been posted earlier by The Exiled Tim.
Anyway I fully endorse his post.
Ave Ave
TET
😂
Prestonpans
Aye J .If we beat the huns on the 8th I’ll buy you a bottle. Pinkie up. Ross County first and most important. Gerrintaethum Celtic.
BRRB
WHEN
As one not very interested in Internationals, I didn`s see Scotland`s victory over Cyprus but I did notice, in the BBC ratings, that Calmac was considered one of the worst players in the Scotland team. Did he have a very poor game ( hard to believe) or is there an anti-Celtic feeling among the Tartan Army ?
“WHAT IS THE STARZ on 26TH MARCH 2023 9:01 PM
Johnny Kenny may have come off the bench today to score the winner for Ireland under 21s but he has no hope of making it at Celtic. He is fairly average player.”
Good to see that some guys go to many games other than our first team matches. Well done, WITS.
Spurs Bin Conte
HH
Hit smoked
Johnny Kenny is currently on loan with Shamrock Rovers, I have watched him play half a dozen times,he scored one goal against Derry which was a decent finish but he has missed several really good chances and his all round contribution is not great.Most of the Rovers fans that I go to the games with are scratching their heads and wondering how he is getting a game ahead of several better options. Perhaps he is trying too hard and his confidence is shot.I don’t know.But I can’t see him being a success at Shamrock Rovers….As for Celtic,no chance
Hello again all you young rebels.
Only 18 degs and heavy rain expected on the Celtic peninsula
this morning.
So won’t be walking the line, (Johnny Cash ) DRAMBOWIECELT
today lol.
A bit concerned about the number of injuries our bhoys are
picking up on international duty.
I know it raises the profile of the players, but personally I’d
prefer Ange takes a leaf out of big Jocks book and holds our
most important ones back.
And I realise this won’t be universally accepted, but it’s how I
feel.
Thoughts ?
H H. Mick
Spent much of a very relaxing day reading
“Said Lizzie to Philip (The story of how Celtic gatecrashed the Coronation)”
…. From start to finish.
Bought it several years ago. Shameful I am just getting to it now.
Credit to the author, Paul McQuade.
It’s a delightful read, particularly for someone who was not born at that time.
It’s not a long book, 110 pages only.
But there’s no dross, just gets right in about telling the tale of a truly remarkable achievement.
IMHO, recommended.
Night all.
Hail hail
Keep the Faith
Rain hammering down 💨💦
Need to “ dubbin ma heid “ noo
H H. Mick